Christmas will soon be upon us, and many have already put together a festive menu. Whether celebrating amongst family or friends, as a human species, we tend to put too much on the table. Yet leftovers don’t need to be thrown away – we show you how to use them for the better.
On festive occasions such as Christmas or Thanksgiving, there is usually a lot going on in and around our plates. Multiple courses, various options, and a touch of decadence as far as the ingredients go all lead to one thing: leftovers.
Of course, planning those Christmas meal portions more carefully and thinking about local, maybe plant-based options in advance should be the first step towards a more sustainable festive dinner. Yet even if you haven’t, food should never end up in the garbage.
While a couple of leftovers might not seem alarming, according to the European Commission, some 88 million tonnes of food waste are generated on a yearly basis in the EU alone. And as food waste has an important role to play in how we tackle climate change, that amount should not be neglected.
Little changes can have a big impact, and that is why this festive season, we should all be looking at our leftovers differently. Instead of throwing them away, they can be put to good use, be it for yourself or people you know. Too Good To Go, the world’s largest surplus food marketplace, provides us with some ideas to recycle this year’s leftovers.
Leftover dinner
Why celebrate Christmas just once when it could be done all over again? When planning a dinner with friends during the festive period, try being creative. If everyone brings their own Christmas leftovers to the table, from vegetable to chocolate mousse and everything in between, chances are it will turn into one big feast. Bonus points: no one has to cook, meaning there is more time to enjoy each other’s company.
@foodieholly_ Leftover Christmas dinner board!! 😍🎄 you need to make this with your Christmas leftovers, yuuum so tasty! Lots of Christmas sides, starters, mains in here and it was delish #christmasdinner #recipe #dinner #christmasrecipe #eating ♬ original sound – foodieholly
Get cooking
From an opened bag of stale leftover speculoos cookies to roasted potatoes, from vegetables to a loaf of bread, from cranberry sauce to rice: Christmas leftovers tend to be a colourful collection of things. And while they might not necessarily be very tempting to eat as such, they can easily be turned into other dishes. Baguettes can become delicious bruschetta or French toast, vegetables can be added to winter stews or omelettes, and those leftover potatoes are perfect as a soup thickener or to make tasty potato pancakes.
Delicious gifting
In line with the Christmas spirit, you could opt to turn those leftovers into something good for someone else. Sharing them with neighbours, friends, or family – even if you don’t get to enjoy them together – will undoubtedly earn you some good karma points. Bring your neighbours a selection of the best bits, send your guests home with a box of uneaten cookies, or inform yourself beforehand about the options at your local food bank. Via the Too Good To Go app, you can even order a Holiday Package and pass it on to someone else with the touch of a button – perfect if you don’t have leftovers but still want to save some food from going to waste while doing something nice at the same time.
Freeze!
If all the above options are proving to be impossible – or simply not enough to use all leftovers – don’t hesitate to use your refrigerator. Many things, such as vegetables, soups, and sauces, can be perfectly frozen and enjoyed at another time.
